How To Tap Your Opponents With The Lapel Ezekiel Choke by Andrew Wiltse
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Thrust Lapel Choke·Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics
How To Tap Your Opponents With The Lapel Ezekiel Choke by Andrew Wiltse - Click Here To Check Out Andrew Wiltse's Instru…
Thrust Lapel Choke
SubFamily突込絞(Tsukkomi-jime)
TraditionalTranslation: Thrust Strangle
Overview
Thrust lapel chokes involve driving the fist or forearm into the opponent's throat using the collar as a grip anchor. [1],[2] The attacker grips the collar with one or both hands and thrusts forward, pressing the knuckles or wrist into the trachea or carotid arteries. These are primarily air chokes (tracheal compression) rather than blood chokes, creating immediate discomfort and gagging reflex. [3],[4],[5]
History & Origin
Thrust chokes correspond to tsukkomi-jime (突込絞め, thrust strangle) in the Kodokan Judo shime-waza classification — officially the 11th technique in the shime-waza canon. [2],[3] They represent one of the more aggressive choking methods, relying on direct pressure rather than encirclement. [1],[4],[5]
Effectiveness
The thrust lapel choke uses a pushing/thrusting motion with a collar grip to compress the throat. [1]
Lineage
Thrust collar chokes are part of judo's shimewaza, particularly the okuri-eri-jime family. [1]
Competition Record
Thrust lapel chokes are used in gi BJJ and judo competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Anterior compression of the trachea and airway — direct pressure on the throat restricts breathing and triggers tap
Joints Involved — Cervical spine (flexion under pressure), hyoid bone region, laryngeal cartilage
Force Vector — Posterior-to-anterior force drives the forearm or wrist blade into the throat
Choking Mechanism — Tracheal compression — restricts air flow rather than blood flow, causing sensation of suffocation
Position & Entry
From controlling position (gi) — Secure the necessary collar or lapel grips, configure hands for the choke, and apply opposing rotational pressure
From guard (gi) — Break posture and secure deep collar grips, feed the choke and angle to finish
From back control (gi) — Establish collar grip access, feed the second hand and apply the cross-collar squeeze
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Thrust chokes use a pushing motion of the fist into the neck combined with lapel tension
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFRestricted
— no-gi competition only — technique requires gi
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— technique requires gi — not applicable in MMA
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The thrust lapel choke drives a fistful of the opponent's lapel directly into the side of the neck — the bunched fabric and knuckles compress the carotid artery through a thrusting motion (Gracie & Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique, 2001)
✓The technique uses the opponent's own gi lapel as a weapon: grip the lapel deep and thrust the hand into the neck — the stiff fabric transmits force into the artery
✓The thrust distinguishes this from pulling collar chokes: instead of drawing the collar tight, the attacker pushes the lapel fabric directly into the vascular structures
✓From guard or mount: grip the lapel with four fingers inside (or a pistol grip), then thrust the fist toward the opposite side of the neck — the lapel fabric acts as an extension of the fist
✓The choke works on a single-artery principle: the thrust compresses one carotid while the stiff lapel fabric may restrict the other — often causing a rapid blood-pressure response
✓The thrust lapel choke is a high-urgency submission: the direct vascular impact can cause unconsciousness faster than progressive tightening chokes
✓This technique is fundamental in the Gracie system: it demonstrates that gi fabric can be used not just for pulling strangles but for direct pressure attacks
Common Mistakes
!Thrusting into the trachea — aim for the lateral neck where the carotid artery runs; centre-throat thrusts are painful but less effective for strangulation
!Using a loose grip on the lapel — the lapel must be bunched tight in the fist to create a solid striking surface
!Thrusting without body weight — drive from the hips and shoulders, not just the arm; the thrust needs mass behind it
!Attempting without positional control — the thrust requires a stable base; without mount or guard control, the opponent simply moves away
!Using the thrust as a single-attempt technique — if the first thrust is blocked, adjust the angle and re-thrust; it often takes multiple attempts to find the artery
!Telegraphing the grip by reaching for the lapel slowly — grip the lapel during a transition or grip exchange; a deliberate reach is easily defended
!Not following up when the thrust fails — use the grip to transition to cross-collar chokes or sweeps rather than abandoning the position
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinkingTwo-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locksTurn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressurePosture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle
Setup Chain
1Achieve Controlling Position — secure the position from which the choke is applied
2Isolate the Neck — clear defending hands and establish access to the throat
3Set the Grip — lock the choking configuration (arm, lapel, or leg placement)
4Apply Pressure — squeeze to compress the carotid arteries for the finish
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo — Official Shime-waza #11
1BookKodokan Judo — Official Shime-waza #11
Japanese terminology sourced from Kodokan Judo — Official Shime-waza #11
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationKodokan Judo — Official Shime-waza #11
Japanese terminology sourced from Kodokan Judo — Official Shime-waza #11
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip or squeeze strength, positional control
Favours
strong upper body for sustained compression
Key muscles
forearms, biceps, pectorals, core stabilisers
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent my opponent from escaping after I isolate the lapel?
Andrew Wiltse emphasizes heavily prioritizing a pinch on the lapel to the point where even if your opponent tries to get it back down, you should fight to maintain it—it's a combination of pinch pressure, pull-up pressure, and hip forward movement.
Should I pull the lapel straight up, or is there a better angle?
Pull the lapel out at an angle rather than straight up, because pulling straight up is much easier for your opponent to block, whereas pulling at an angle is significantly harder to defend against.
How should I bunch up the lapel for better control?
Rather than keeping a flat lapel that traps the whole arm, create a bunched-up, ropey-type lapel and even twist it a couple times—this allows you to chase the lapel and pin it down even if your opponent tries to hide or move their arm around.
How do I get my opponent to pull their arm out so I can tighten the choke?
Initially give them a slight arch by moving your hand closer to make them feel they can pull their arm out; if they won't, threaten wrist locks and other submissions to make them uncomfortable until they attempt to clear their hand, at which point you can apply full choke pressure.
How does the Thrust Lapel Choke work?
Thrust lapel chokes involve driving the fist or forearm into the opponent's throat using the collar as a grip anchor. The attacker grips the collar with one or both hands and thrusts forward, pressing the knuckles or wrist into the trachea or carotid arteries.
Where does the Thrust Lapel Choke come from?
Thrust chokes correspond to tsukkomi-jime (突込絞め, thrust strangle) in the Kodokan Judo shime-waza classification — officially the 11th technique in the shime-waza canon. They represent one of the more aggressive choking methods, relying on direct pressure rather than encirclement.
Is the Thrust Lapel Choke legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes are the safest submission cat…; IJF: legal — Legal (shime-waza) — strangulation techniques are one of three permitted subm…; ADCC: restricted — N/A (no-gi competition only — technique requires gi); Unified MMA: restricted — N/A (technique requires gi — not applicable in MMA); FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Thrust Lapel Choke?
Danger rating 7/10. Thrust chokes use a pushing motion of the fist into the neck combined with lapel tension
How do I set up the Thrust Lapel Choke?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Thrust Lapel Choke?
Standard counters include: Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinking / Two-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locks / Turn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressure / Posture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle.
What are the variants of the Thrust Lapel Choke?
Common variants: Standard grip variation (primary hand configuration for maximum choking pressure); Gi variation (uses the lapel or collar as an anchor for additional fric…); No-gi variation (adapted grip and positioning for submission grappling wit…); Transition finish (applied during a positional change to catch the opponent …).
How effective is the Thrust Lapel Choke in competition?
Thrust lapel chokes are used in gi BJJ and judo competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Thrust Lapel Choke?
Top errors to watch for: Thrusting into the trachea — aim for the lateral neck where the carotid artery runs; centre-throat thrusts are painfu… / Using a loose grip on the lapel — the lapel must be bunched tight in the fist to create a solid striking surface / Thrusting without body weight — drive from the hips and shoulders, not just the arm; the thrust needs mass behind it / Attempting without positional control — the thrust requires a stable base; without mount or guard control, the oppone….
What are other names for the Thrust Lapel Choke?
The Thrust Lapel Choke is also known as Tsukkomi-jime, Push Choke, Lapel Thrust Strangle.